and the real monster of the film was the idea of "the nothing" ... there is nothing more freaky of an idea to a child than to suggest to them that there could be an absolute, all consuming, eternal "nothing" ... to some people, it was a thought worse than death itself. As a kid who didn't understand how to process philosophical ideas or even begin to fathom them, it was a terribly scary thought. Not that I understand complex philosophical ideas as a grown adult, I still don't understand lots today ... but as a kid who had no clue or guide to any of this, it was like being taken to a desert, dropped off alone and told to figure it out on your own.

I love that film and I loved the fact I saw it as an unaware kid when I was young .... it sparked so many ideas and thoughts in my life that affected me in positive ways ever since.

Is this from something known?

You know, even as a kid...

Like, I get choked up by a lot of stuff in movies. It's not that I have a tough time forming emotional connections.

But I remember watching that scene as a kid, and thinking it was just....weird. Like, the horse is supposed to be sad, but... It didnt SEEM sad. It wasn't a sad horse thay needed to fight the sadness. It just seemed like a horse. A horse that was really confused why it was there, and in a bunch of mud, and etc.

Like, even at 8 or whatever I remember thinking "wow, I'm supposed to be sad here, but I really am not and neither is Artax"

And I feel the same way watching it since.

I get more choked up on stuff involving the luck dragon. Or maybe the rock biter talking about not being strong enough, etc.